Scott Jamieson ended a nearly 14-year wait and earned his second career victory on the DP World Tour. The 38-year-old Scot won the 2026 Nexo Championship, held at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, by two strokes, finishing 11 points behind thanks to a final-round 67.

Following Grant Forrest's success last year, it was once again a local player celebrating in Scotland. Jamieson held off a comeback from England's Matthew Jordan, who finished second at nine points behind. Andy Sullivan finished in solitary third at seven points behind, while Shaun Norris suffered a two-shot penalty on the front nine and finished five points behind, along with Richard Mansell and Fabrizio Zanotti.

The tournament saw a strong performance from Matteo Manassero, who finished 16th with a total of two points behind (71-71-74-70). Filippo Celli and Renato Paratore, however, failed to make the cut.

On the decisive day, Jamieson birdied the 7th and 8th, while Jordan bogeyed a tricky hole out of the rough and made a double bogey on the 9th. Meanwhile, Norris was penalized two strokes for improving playing conditions by moving a divot under his feet on the fairway of the 5th (Rule 8.1). From then on, the lead shifted to the Scotsman, who extended his lead with two more birdies and maintained it until the end. On the 17th, he saved par from a bunker and watched Jordan's par putt land on the lip of the hole, moving him to three points ahead. On the 18th, a comfortable par sealed the victory, while Jordan recovered a birdie to secure sole second place. “Fourteen years old, it's unbelievable. It's so hard to win,” said an emotional Jamieson. “I've been patient all day… I still can't believe it.” The victory allows him to make a dramatic leap in the Race to Dubai, from 135th to 42nd place, and secure a card for another two years. Jamieson also won the Closing Swing, taking home a $200,000 bonus and surpassing $700,000 in total earnings for the week. He is the second home winner in two consecutive weeks, following Jeff Winther at the Danish Golf Championship.

The Closing Swing of the DP World Tour concludes where it began, in Scotland. From August 20-23, 2026, the Nexo Championship returns to the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, on the picturesque Old Course overlooking the North Sea. The prize pool is $3 million, and three Italians are on the course to watch closely: Filippo Celli, Matteo Manassero, and Renato Paratore.

Twelve months ago, Grant Forrest won by four shots, capturing his second DP World Tour title (and his second on home soil). Almost exactly four years after his triumph at the 2021 Hero Open at Fairmont St. Andrews, the Scotsman took the lead with a course-record 66 (-6), extending it to three by the end of the third round. In the final round, Todd Clements had reduced the lead to two, but a birdie by Forrest on the fourth hole and a triple-bogey by Clements on the same eighth hole widened the gap to five. From there, he hasn't looked back.

After four stops in as many countries, the Closing Swing returns to Scotland. In the same week as the Genesis Scottish Open (won by Tom Kim, Rolex Series), Steven Fisk won the ISCO Championship. While Ryan Fox triumphed at the Open Championship (Majors don't count towards Swing Rankings), Stefano Mazzoli won on both the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR at the Corales Puntacana Championship. After a three-week break, the Swing resumed with the Danish Golf Championship, won on home soil by Jeff Winther. The winner of the Closing Swing Ranking earns a spot in all Back 9 tournaments and a $200,000 bonus. With Mazzoli and Winther absent, the closest contenders are England's Todd Clements and Italy's Filippo Celli. The top available player in the Closing Swing Ranking who is not otherwise exempt also earns a spot in the BMW PGA Championship, the third Rolex Series event of the season. Currently, Celli, who graduated last year from the HotelPlanner Tour, would be the winner

2025 US Open mixed doubles runners-up Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud won't be making their second appearance as a duo at Flushing Meadows after the Pole decided to withdraw due to fatigue.

The start of the North American hard-court swing brought a long-desired spark for Swiatek after she ended her title drought at the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto. En route to sealing her maiden Canadian Open title, the former world No. 1 won a total of six matches.

Then, Swiatek continued her resurgence at another WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, where she made it past her opening four tests to improve her winning streak to 10. Unfortunately for the current world No. 8, she fell just short of securing back-to-back Cincinnati finals after Jessica Pegula edged her out in the semifinal 7-5 4-6 6-4.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the star-studded US Open mixed doubles event is slated to take place.

Unfortunately for the organizers, they lost one star pair just before the draw release after Swiatek announced that she wouldn't be able to compete alongside Ruud.

In their team debut 12 months ago, the Polish-Norwegian combination won three matches before falling short in a tight three-set final 3-6 7-5 6-10 to Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori.

However, Ruud will still get to compete in this year's mixed doubles event after being paired up with Diana Shnaider.

Iga Swiatek is not playing the mixed doubles at the US Open Casper Ruud and Diana Shnaider repair. Shnaider was supposed to play with Medvedev before Daniil is into Winston-Salem. pic.twitter.com/y5jSeNluaC

— Tennis Updates (@TennisUpdates26) August 23, 2026

In a statement issued through her social media, the 25-year-old Pole explained that after consulting with her team, they mutually agreed that she needed some rest at this time.

“Looking back at a physically demanding few weeks on court and after speaking to my team, I’ve decided it’s best for me to pass on mixed doubles at the US Open this year. Right now, I need a few days to rest, recharge and fully focus on preparing for the singles tournament," the 25-year-old said in a message posted on her Instagram Story.

“As always, I was really looking forward to playing alongside @casperruud – so Casper, till next time (white love heart emoji). Thank you all for your continuous support. See you on court soon in NYC (Waving hand emoji).”

📸 iga świątek | IG stories pic.twitter.com/QprFLD66lj

— iga archive ✦ (@igaswiarchive) August 23, 2026

The US Open starts on Sunday, August 30.

Swiatek enjoyed a strong build-up to the US Open and is definitely a title contender heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.

Joao Fonseca will miss the US Open after deciding that his abdominal injury requires more time to recover.

The Brazilian youngster was forced to withdraw from Cincinnati last week after feeling discomfort on the left side of his abdomen during practice ahead of his second match.

JOAO. FONSECA. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/FdxpTpwbBf

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 21, 2024

The young gun returned home for further examinations and treatment, hoping to recover in time for New York. However, after assessing his condition with his team, Joao concluded that he would not be ready to compete at the level he expects from himself.

It is another frustrating setback for one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour. Also, the event has lost one of the players who gathers the crowd, with the organizers already experiencing the withdrawals from Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune and Jack Draper.

The Brazilian entered Cincinnati looking for valuable preparation ahead of the final Major event of the season. However, his campaign ended after only one victory.

Joao bested Botic van de Zandschulp before the abdominal discomfort appeared, forcing him to hand Christopher O'Connell a walkover. The 20-year-old was forced to fly home, which is never a good sign ahead of a Major event.

He started his treatment, with his team taking a cautious approach. Fonseca entered every notable event this season between the Australian Open and Cincinnati, which makes the current setback his biggest one of the season

Joao has had ups and downs in 2026, having won 19 matches and experiencing 13 defeats. He wished for another good run at Majors at an event where he claimed the junior crown three years ago.

The young gun achieved his first Major quarter-final at Roland Garros in June, having beaten Novak Djokovic in five thrilling sets. Now, instead of testing himself in New York, Fonseca will focus entirely on getting healthy. 

His decision reflects the importance of making sure the abdominal problem is fully resolved rather than rushing back, even for a Major. With so much time ahead of the 20-year-old, the priority is clear - recover properly, then come back ready to compete at his best.

"Hi everyone. I wanted to give you all an update. After undergoing tests and starting treatment for my abdomen, it became clear to me and my team that I need more time to fully recover so I can compete at a high level.

Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to play in the US Open. It was not an easy decision to make, as it is a very special tournament for me. We'll keep working hard so I can come back as soon as possible.

I'm super grateful for all the messages of support and for the birthday wishes, thank you! ” Joao Fonseca wrote.

Coco Gauff has had a season with a little bit of everything, from frustrating losses to some of the best tennis she has played in her career.

The 22-year-old reached the Australian Open quarterfinals. She then came very close to a first title of 2026 in Miami, where Aryna Sabalenka stopped her in the final.

There was another final in Rome, but that one also ended in defeat, this time against Elina Svitolina. Roland Garros was much more disappointing, with Gauff going out in the third round while defending the title she won in 2025.

Her summer has looked much better. The American reached her first Wimbledon semifinal and then made another semifinal in Toronto before finally turning those good results into a trophy in Cincinnati.

Gauff beat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final to win her second Cincinnati Open title and her first trophy of the season. She controlled most of the match and finished a tournament in which her serve, movement and forehand all looked much more settled than a year ago.

Winning another title in Cincinnati also gave Gauff a chance to look back at the level she has produced at different points in her career.

The young American has already won two Grand Slam titles, the 2023 US Open and 2025 Roland Garros. However, when talking about pure level of play, Cincinnati has always had a special place in her mind.

Gauff has previously said that her 2023 Cincinnati run was the best tournament she had played at that stage of her career, even though she went on to win the US Open only a few weeks later.

That week was important for another reason. She beat Iga Swiatek for the first time in the semifinal before defeating Karolina Muchova in the final. It gave her proof that she could beat the best players and then carry that confidence into New York.

Three years later, Gauff believes her latest Cincinnati run belongs in the same conversation. She went through the tournament with much more control than she showed in many events earlier this season and lost only one set, which came in her opening match against Liudmila Samsonova.

The biggest difference may have been the serve. Gauff spent much of last year trying to fix that part of her game, and the work was obvious in the final against Pegula, where she made only one double fault.

Earlier this month, Gauff said she could feel herself becoming a better player.

“I feel like I’m becoming a better player,” she said in Toronto. “I feel like people are seeing that.”

That belief has become easier to understand after Cincinnati.

The Cincinnati title arrives at a useful time, with the US Open next on the schedule.

Gauff has good memories of New York after winning her first Grand Slam title there in 2023. Last year was much more difficult, and she later admitted that her game and especially her serve were in a bad place during that period.

This time, she arrives with much more confidence. Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati have all shown that she can compete consistently against top players on different surfaces.

The world No. 4 is also trying not to put too much pressure on herself because of one title. Before the Cincinnati final, she explained that she was not putting too much weight on whether she won the trophy and was more interested in improving.

“I feel like I’m really confident in my game,” Gauff said. “It’s just another challenge for me to get better.”

That is also how she has spoken about the longer-term picture. During the Canadian Open, Gauff made it clear that she does not think she has reached her ceiling.

“I’m nowhere near my peak yet,” she said, adding that she is trying to do everything possible to reach it.

There are still areas she wants to improve. Gauff has talked about being more decisive on serve, going for her shots and handling important points better instead of falling back into old habits.

The results suggest those changes are starting to come together. She has now reached the semifinals or better at Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati in three consecutive tournaments, finishing that run with a title.

New York will bring more pressure because Gauff is already a former champion there and expectations will be high after Cincinnati. She seems more interested in what she can control.

The 22-year-old wants to keep improving, trust the work she has done and see where that takes her. If the level from Cincinnati follows her to the US Open, she will have a lot of reasons to believe another big result is possible.

Jessica Pegula had been one of the most consistent players in Cincinnati, but the final against Coco Gauff quickly became a very difficult night for her.

The 32-year-old had already beaten Iga Swiatek in a three-set semifinal and entered the final with confidence after another good week on hard courts. Gauff, however, started much faster. The younger American raced into a 5-0 lead in the opening set and never really allowed Pegula to settle.

Pegula tried to change the direction of the match in the second set, but Gauff kept making her play extra balls and protected the advantage when it mattered. The world No. 4 eventually completed a 6-2, 6-4 victory to win her second Cincinnati title and her first trophy of the season.

What made the defeat frustrating for Pegula was that she did not feel she had played particularly badly. She thought she was hitting the ball well and building points in the right way. The problem was that Gauff kept reaching balls that would normally be winners against most opponents.

That led Pegula to make an interesting comparison between Gauff, Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk when she was asked about the best movers on the WTA Tour.

“Yeah, I thought the level that she was playing at was extremely high,” Pegula said.

She explained that constructing longer points against Gauff can sometimes make the situation even harder because the 22-year-old enjoys running and defending.

“I feel like the more you construct the point, the worse it is, because she almost likes to run,” Pegula said.

The former US Open finalist also stressed that she did not feel far away from her normal level.

“I didn’t really think I played badly. I thought I was hitting the ball well and setting up the points pretty well.”

Pegula then gave Gauff perhaps the biggest compliment of the press conference.

“She’s the best mover on tour, I think, by far,” she claimed.

According to Pegula, Gauff’s biggest advantage is the way she can defend from the corners and extend points that look almost finished. When the two-time Grand Slam champion is also serving well, returning well and moving forward, Pegula believes there are very few easy ways to hurt her.

“Right now, a dangerous, confident Coco is going to be hard going into New York,” Pegula said.

She also included Swiatek and Kostyuk among the best movers in women’s tennis, although she sees differences between all three.

Pegula pointed out that Swiatek may be the best at turning defence into attack and praised the Pole’s pure foot speed. Kostyuk was described as a great athlete. Gauff, in Pegula’s view, simply covers more court and makes it extremely difficult to get the ball past her.

“I still think Coco, with her length, probably covers the most court,” she added.

The final did not erase what had been a very good Cincinnati tournament for Pegula. Before losing to Gauff, she had beaten Simona Waltert, Emma Navarro, Sorana Cirstea, Amanda Anisimova and Swiatek.

Her semifinal win over Swiatek was especially important because Pegula had to stay patient for nearly three hours before winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. It was another reminder that she can compete with the best players when matches become difficult.

Pegula has also spoken about how useful those experiences can be before a Grand Slam. She said recently that having match confidence gives players something to lean on when pressure arrives at tournaments like the US Open.

Gauff also knows exactly how difficult Pegula can be. Before the Cincinnati final, she called her countrywoman “the ultimate competitor” and praised her clean ball-striking and ability to get many balls back.

The two Americans know each other extremely well after previously playing doubles together, and Gauff said Pegula can be friendly away from the court while becoming a completely different competitor once a match starts.

That respect was obvious after the final as well. Pegula did not look for excuses and focused more on Gauff’s level than on what she could have done differently.

The final was a great experience for both players, especially for the young Coco Gauff, who many believe could become world No. 1 in the near future. The American, however, does not pay too much attention to other people’s expectations. She knows that her main focus has to be on hard work and training, and that the results will come after that.

Judging by her recent form, the promising 22-year-old could achieve even better results in the coming weeks and continue pushing towards the world No. 1 ranking.

German Dominic Foos won the 17th edition of the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by Finnish Golf Union, a stop on the HotelPlanner Tour played on the Cooke Course at Vierumäki Golf (par 72). With a total of 267 (-21), the result of 69-63-68-67, the 28-year-old from Karlsruhe secured his second title on the tour eleven years after the 2015 Gant Open, which he already won in Finland. He also has the recent 2025 SJM Macao Open on the Asian Tour under his belt. In the final round, Foos shot the best overall of the day, a 67 (-5) with six birdies and just one bogey, climbing back from third place. He finished one stroke ahead of Denmark's Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen (268, -20) and three strokes ahead of fellow countryman Tiger Christensen (270, -18), the leader after 54 holes thanks to a 63 on Saturday. In fourth place at 271 (-17) were Sweden's Adam Blomme and Slovakia's Tadeas Tetak. Sixth was another Swede, Christofer Blomstrand, at 272 (-16); seventh at 273 (-15) were Estonia's Mattias Varjun and American John Catlin, among the favorites going into the event and with a background in LIV Golf. The winner received a check for €48,000 out of a total prize pool of €300,000.

Jacopo Vecchi Fossa finished 34th with a -10 score (70-67-70-71). In the final round, he moved up five spots thanks to a 71 (-1) built on three birdies and two bogeys. Flavio Michetti finished 66th at -1 (68-70-69-80), suffering a difficult final 80.

Matteo Cristoni (71-69), Aron Zemmer (73-69), and Ludovico Addabbo (70-72) made the cut.

This week, the HotelPlanner Tour stops in Finland for the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge supported by Finnish Golf Union, scheduled for August 20-23, 2026, on the Cooke Course in Vierumäki. This event celebrates the tenth edition on the Finnish course and opens a short sequence of events in Northern Europe.

The tournament has been hosted at Vierumäki since 2016 (with the only interruption in 2020 due to Covid). The HotelPlanner Tour had previously visited Finland since 2001, moving from Golf Talma to Kytäjä Golf and Aura GC before finally settling on the Cooke Course. Since 2024, the event has been supported by the Finnish Golf Union. In recent editions, two Finns have lifted the trophy: Kim Koivu in 2018 (winner in the playoffs against Robert MacIntyre) and Lauri Ruuska in 2023, who shot a memorable 59 en route to the title.

The Cooke Course, designed by North American architect Graham Cooke and opened in 2006, is located approximately 130 kilometers northeast of Helsinki, nestled in a hilly landscape surrounded by lakes. The fairways are wide and tree-lined, while water enters the 3rd, 6th, and 7th holes, as well as the par-4 13th, which can be reached with a drive. The course measures 6,485 meters and has a par of 72.

Five Italians are starting: Ludovico Addabbo, Matteo Cristoni, Flavio Michetti, Jacopo Vecchi Fossa, and Aron Zemmer. The Italian presence represents a significant opportunity to score valuable points on the Road to Mallorca in a Nordic setting, far from the more traditional Mediterranean courses.

The defending champion is Scotland's David Law, who in 2025 finished at 17-under-par (65-68-70-68) for a two-shot victory, climbing to the top of the season standings (he later finished second behind JC Ritchie, thereby earning a DP World Tour card). The previous year, Sweden's Christofer Blomstrand, who also won the Scottish Challenge, triumphed. Among the home-grown Finns, Tapio Pulkkanen will be looking to add his name to the list, vying for a second title of the season and a possible return to the main circuit.

The Nordic Golf League, an official satellite of the HotelPlanner Tour, continues to produce talent who are making waves on both the Road to Mallorca and the DP World Tour. Four Nordic players currently rank in the top 15: Denmark's Hamish Brown is the highest-placed (third), followed by Sweden's Christofer Blomstrand (fifth) and Adam Wallin (seventh, winner of the 2025 Nordic Golf League Order of Merit). Pulkkanen is tenth. Thirty-eight players from Nordic countries are in this week's field, including well-known names like former DP World Tour winner Kalle Samooja and youngsters like Konsta Mattsson, who qualified through Monday's qualifier.

The prize pool is €300,000. Whoever wins the title on Sunday will hope to follow in the footsteps of Law and many others who, starting with Vierumäki, launched their careers on the main circuit. For the Italians, it will be an opportunity to shine on a technical and spectacular course, in a tournament that is one of the cornerstones of the Scandinavian calendar.

Coco Gauff has had a season with both frustrating moments and signs that her game is moving in the right direction.

The 22-year-old started the year with high expectations, but there have been periods when her serve and forehand caused problems again. She reached the Australian Open quarterfinals and later made the Rome final, only to lose in the third round of Roland Garros while defending her title.

The American responded well during the summer. She reached her first Wimbledon semifinal, followed that with another semifinal in Toronto and then arrived in Cincinnati looking much more comfortable. Gauff eventually beat Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-4 in the final to win her first title of the season and her second Cincinnati crown.

It was another sign of how different things look compared to last year. In Cincinnati in 2025, Gauff lost to Jasmine Paolini in a match where she hit 16 double faults. Soon after, she brought biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan into her team to help rebuild the serve.

A year later, she made only one double fault in the final against Pegula.

After winning the title, the world No. 4 explained that the biggest change has not only been technical. Her coaches have also helped her remember what kind of player she is and stop listening too much to outside criticism.

“I think Gavin and JC have done a great job kind of reworking my mind and reminding me of the player I am,” Gauff said.

She admitted that comments from people who suggested she had been lucky to win some of her titles affected her more than she would have liked.

“But now I feel like I’m in the mindset that I deserve everything that I have gotten so far, and I worked really hard for it,” she said.

The former US Open champion also stressed that the results she wanted have started to come after a period in which she felt she was doing the right things without being rewarded.

“Over the course of the last two tournaments, starting after the French Open, I feel like I’ve been playing the tennis that I’ve been wanting to play, and now the results are coming.”

That is very different from how Gauff described herself a year ago. She said she was frustrated with her game and even felt she was declining, something no player wants to experience.

“So last year I was in a weird predicament,” she explained. “I made sudden decisions that most people probably wouldn’t do before a Grand Slam, but I think it was worth it.”

Gauff believes the difference is now obvious.

“Obviously, I feel like there’s a night-and-day difference in the player I am from last year to now.”

The Cincinnati title gives Gauff confidence before the US Open, although she is trying not to turn one good tournament into a prediction about what will happen in New York.

“To be honest, I don’t think that this is an indicator that I’m going to do well in New York or anything like that,” she said.

What matters more is knowing she can find solutions during difficult matches.

“I definitely think going in knowing that I can figure out these matches, and knowing it’s going to be tough in New York, just knowing the quality wins that I had this week helps.”

That attitude has appeared several times during her season. Before Cincinnati, Gauff said she felt something had started to click at Wimbledon and then carried over into Toronto. She was especially pleased because the faster Canadian courts have not always been easy for her.

Earlier this year, she also admitted that she has learned not to judge everything by results and to block out some of the pressure coming from outside. For a player who became famous as a teenager and has been expected to win big titles for years, that has become important.

Her recent results suggest the 22-year-old is finding a better balance. She has reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and Toronto and now has a trophy from Cincinnati, while the serve that caused so much stress last year looks much more controlled.

Gauff knows there is more work to do. She said she wants to become more aggressive in important points and use what she learned in Cincinnati once she gets to New York.

The US Open has already given her some of the best memories of her career after she won the title there in 2023. This time she arrives as the fourth seed, with more confidence than she had a year ago and with proof that the changes she made are starting to work.

Frances Tiafoe came very close to turning an uncertain week in Cincinnati into the biggest title of his career.

The 28-year-old did not even know if he would be able to play the tournament after undergoing surgery on his right hand earlier in August. A cyst had been causing him problems for some time, and the pain eventually forced him to retire from his match in Montreal against Arthur Rinderknech.

Tiafoe had the cyst removed soon after and returned much quicker than expected. Despite limited practice, he found his rhythm in Cincinnati and reached the final after beating players such as Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti and Brandon Nakashima.

His return had already looked surprising earlier in the week. After beating Learner Tien in three sets, Tiafoe admitted his body was not feeling at its best, but he kept finding ways to get through matches.

His run ended against Arthur Fils, who won 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 to claim his first Masters 1000 title. Tiafoe also gave his team another injury scare when he took a medical timeout after the second set.

This time the problem was his hip, not the hand that had already caused so much trouble. With the US Open beginning only a week later, there was an obvious question about whether the American would be ready for New York.

Tiafoe was asked about the medical timeout after the final, and he quickly made it clear that he did not want the injury to become the story of the match.

“No, I mean that’s not important. He’s won his first Masters 1000. It’s not about how I felt,” Tiafoe said.

“It’s his moment, his Sunday.”

The former world No. 10 admitted that his hip was giving him some trouble, although he refused to use it as an excuse for losing the deciding set without winning a game.

“My hip was bothering me a little bit, but that’s neither here nor there,” he said.

“You know, he got on me early. I had some chances there early in the third and didn’t take them, and you know, it’s been a long week.”

Tiafoe pointed out that he had not played many matches or practiced much since Wimbledon, which made his run to the final even more encouraging.

“Haven’t played that many matches, haven’t practiced that much since Wimbledon so ultimately, I feel great,” he said.

He also praised Fils for taking control when the match started to turn.

“He did a great job getting out of trouble there a little bit early in the third set and running with momentum,” Tiafoe added.

When the 28-year-old was asked directly if the hip problem could stop him from playing the US Open, his answer was simple.

“I’ll be right in a week let’s put it that way.”

The Cincinnati result fits with the way Tiafoe has spoken about his season in recent months. Even before reaching the final, the American said he felt he had become much more consistent and was giving himself chances almost every week.

“I’ve been extremely consistent this year,” Tiafoe said during the tournament.

His coach Mark Kovacs has also spoken positively about the work Tiafoe has done this year. Kovacs, who began working with him before the 2026 season, said the talent has never been the question.

“He’s got great ability. We all know he could play tennis at a high level,” Kovacs told the ATP earlier this year.

For Kovacs, the bigger challenge has been getting Tiafoe to take care of the small things every day and become more consistent with his preparation. The work appears to be helping, with the American reaching another Masters final only days after surgery.

Tiafoe himself did not sound too disappointed after losing to Fils. During the trophy ceremony, he admitted he had not expected to play Cincinnati at all and was happy to take the result.

He also made it clear where his attention was already going next, saying he could not wait to get to New York.

That tournament has usually brought out some of his best tennis. He reached the US Open semifinals in 2022 and again in 2024, when he led Taylor Fritz by two sets to one before losing in five.

There will be questions about the hip and how his body reacts after a long week in Cincinnati. Tiafoe, however, seems confident that he will be ready. After making another Masters final with very little preparation, the American heads to New York believing he can once again make a big result in front of his home crowd.

Novak Djokovic has spent another season getting close to the biggest trophies without quite finishing the job, and that is one reason expectations around him are high again before the US Open.

The 39-year-old reached the Australian Open final in February after beating Jannik Sinner in five sets, only to lose to Carlos Alcaraz in four. Roland Garros ended much earlier, with Joao Fonseca coming back from two sets down to beat him in the third round. At Wimbledon, Djokovic made another deep run before Sinner stopped him in straight sets in the semifinals.

For most players, one final and one semifinal from three Grand Slams would be a really good season. For Djokovic, the standard is different. He has been stuck on 24 Grand Slam titles since winning the US Open in 2023, and every Slam now brings the same question: can he get one more?

Fans have another reason to believe New York could give him that chance. Sinner has withdrawn with a knee injury, while Alcaraz is returning after more than four months out with a wrist problem. Djokovic has his own physical concerns after struggling badly in the heat and humidity in Cincinnati, but the draw suddenly looks much more open.

Serena Williams' former coach Rick Macci believes Djokovic has a real opportunity to take advantage.

“Djokovic has a real shot,” Macci said.

Macci does not think another player is necessarily the main problem for the Serbian. He pointed instead to the conditions in New York, where late-August heat and humidity can make long matches much harder.

He said Djokovic's “toughest opponent will be the weather,” especially if temperatures are high and the air is sticky. The American coach added that rest, recovery and avoiding too many long matches could become very important if Djokovic wants to stay fresh through seven rounds.

That warning makes sense after what happened in Cincinnati. Djokovic won the opening set against Thiago Agustin Tirante but began to struggle physically and eventually lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Afterward, the former world No. 1 explained that he has been dealing with a health condition for the past couple of years and that hot, humid weather makes it worse. He admitted the match was “not an enjoyable” experience because of the way he felt.

That is the obvious concern before New York. Djokovic can still produce a high level over one match, something he proved by beating Sinner in Melbourne earlier this year. The harder part may be recovering quickly enough if he is forced into several long battles.

Djokovic has never hidden the fact that Grand Slam titles are now the biggest reason he keeps competing.

After losing the Australian Open final, he was asked whether he really believed a 25th title was possible.

“I always believe I can,” Djokovic said. “Otherwise, I wouldn't be competing.”

He also explained that reaching another final at his age gave him confidence, even if the defeat to Alcaraz was difficult to accept. Djokovic pointed out that he had managed to beat Sinner over five sets and then push Alcaraz in the final.

His expectations have changed a little with age. The Serbian admitted in Melbourne that he has tried to reduce some of the pressure he puts on himself.

“I lowered my expectations the last couple of years,” he said, explaining that it helps him avoid unnecessary stress.

Andy Roddick is another former player who believes Djokovic can make a deep run in New York. The 2003 US Open champion played down his Cincinnati defeat and suggested the Serbian should look very different once Grand Slam tennis begins.

“Most likely I am going to look at his draw at the US Open and be like, ‘Oh, he’s probably going to the semis,’” Roddick said.

He also pointed out that Djokovic does not need as many competitive matches as most players to find his level, largely because of his experience in best-of-five tennis. Roddick expects the 39-year-old to be fine once the tournament starts, provided his body responds well.

Fans firmly believe that the experienced player can take an important step and achieve a positive result at the upcoming tournament. The US Open is full of challenges, but Djokovic’s experience could certainly be decisive in his push for another Grand Slam title. There are many threats coming from his rivals, and it is really difficult to predict who could achieve a big result.

Greg Norman was one of the main faces of LIV Golf from the very beginning, helping launch the league and defend it during some of the most difficult years in professional golf.

The Australian became LIV's first CEO and commissioner before the circuit held its opening event in London in 2022. He helped recruit names such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and later Jon Rahm, while also becoming the person who answered most of the criticism coming from the PGA Tour side.

Norman rarely sounded worried about LIV's future during those years. In early 2023, he said the league was "not going anywhere" and claimed LIV would be around for a long time. A few months later, after the framework agreement involving the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was announced, he again told staff that LIV would remain a stand-alone business and said they had "changed history."

Even when he officially left LIV in 2025, Norman described his time there with pride. He said the league had created a movement, brought new investment into golf and changed the game globally.

That makes his latest comments much more striking.

LIV has entered a very uncertain period after the PIF decided to stop future investment earlier this year. Its planned $40 million Team Championship in Michigan was cancelled and CEO Scott O'Neil has admitted that player commitment will be important as the league tries to complete a deal with new investors.

Norman, who spent years insisting the project would survive, now sounds far less confident.

Speaking to Skratch, the former world No. 1 said he is "sad, disappointed and gutted" by what has happened.

"I hate to see it wither away," Norman said.

He then made an even more surprising admission.

"I would rather just see it end."

Those words are very different from the message Norman was giving when he ran LIV. Back then, he spoke about growth, franchise value and a long future for the league. He once rated LIV's first season 9.5 out of 10 and said the organization was building something golf had never seen before.

Norman has also admitted that working for LIV took a lot out of him. After leaving, he said he had worked 100-hour weeks and that the criticism affected him, especially when people judged the project without, in his view, understanding what LIV was trying to do.

"It was very draining on me," he said in an earlier interview.

He also defended his work by saying: "Don't judge what LIV was truly all about."

Now, less than a year after formally leaving, Norman is watching the league he helped build face questions about funding, players and its entire direction.

Norman's time at LIV was never short of conflict.

Rory McIlroy became one of his loudest critics in 2022 and made it clear that he thought Norman himself was part of the problem between LIV and the PGA Tour.

"I think Greg needs to go," McIlroy said at the DP World Tour Championship.

The Northern Irishman added that Norman had already made his mark, but claimed negotiations would not properly move forward "unless there's an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences."

Tiger Woods made a similar point only a couple of weeks later.

"I think Greg has to go, first of all," Woods said at the Hero World Challenge.

Woods claimed the two sides could not properly coexist with Norman in charge because of what he saw as his "animosity towards the tour itself."

"Not with their leadership, not with Greg there and his animosity towards the tour itself. I don't see that happening," Woods said.

Norman did not take those comments quietly. He later said he paid "zero attention" to Woods and McIlroy and insisted they had their own agenda.

"I believe in our business model. I believe in our people," Norman said at the time.

He also insisted that he would remain with LIV for a "long, long period of time."

That period eventually ended when Scott O'Neil replaced him as CEO in 2025, although Norman initially stayed involved before his contract expired later that year.

It seems that the controversial tour is close to collapse and that it will take a miracle for it to achieve any real success in the future. It is still unclear who will invest money in the project, while optimism among fans of the once Saudi-backed tour is fading. LIV officials, however, insist that they have serious plans and hope that the situation will improve significantly in the near future.

Zheng Qinwen has made a dominant start to her US Open qualifying campaign after ousting fellow Chinese player You Xiaodi 6-3 6-2 in just under an hour and a half of play.

The Chinese tennis star, who is currently ranked No. 121 in the world and didn't make the main draw cut for the last Grand Slam of the year or receive a wildcard, made a fine start after claiming a break in the very first game of the match.

After the next seven games went without a break, Zheng earned the second break of the set in the ninth game to bag the opener against the world No. 205.

The 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist continued her strong play at the start of the second set, taking the opening three games before registering another break in the eighth game to complete a straight-set win over You.

Throughout the entire match, Zheng served exceptionally well as she fired seven aces and won 90 percent of the points behind her first serve. Also, the former world No. 4 saved all four break points she faced.

Zheng Qinwen defeats You in US Open qualifying R1! pic.twitter.com/u8IssxKmuo

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 24, 2026

After dismissing You, Zheng will play against world No. 410 Clara Burel, who defeated Ma Yexin 6-4 6-2.

The 23-year-old Chinese player and the 25-year-old Frenchwoman have no previous meetings, meaning their qualifying second-round match at Flushing Meadows will be their first encounter.

Zheng, who will turn 24 in October, is playing a Grand Slam qualifying event for only the second time in her career.

In her first qualifying appearance in January 2022, the Chinese tennis star won three qualifying matches to reach her maiden Australian Open main draw.

Zheng previously made three consecutive appearances at Flushing Meadows between 2022 and 2024, while she didn't compete in New York last year due to elbow surgery.

Frances Tiafoe arrived in the Cincinnati Open final with plenty of reasons to believe this could finally be his week at Masters 1000 level.

The American had already reached the final in Ohio two years earlier, losing to Jannik Sinner in 2024, and this time he put together another impressive run in front of home fans. Tiafoe beat players including Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime before taking down Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals.

Arthur Fils, however, had been playing some of his best tennis as well. The 22-year-old defeated Alex de Minaur, Jiri Lehecka and Flavio Cobolli on his way to his first Masters 1000 final, and he carried that level into Sunday.

Fils took the opening set 6-3 with aggressive tennis from the baseline and a reliable serve. Tiafoe responded quickly, winning the second 6-1 and suddenly looking like the player with more momentum. The deciding set went completely the other way.

After Tiafoe took a medical timeout before the third, Fils regained control and did not give him a game, completing a 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 victory in one hour and 28 minutes. It gave the Frenchman the biggest title of his career and moved him to a career-high world No. 11.

The celebration did not end with the trophy.

Moments after the match, Fils walked over to the courtside camera and wrote: “Who’s gonna talk now?”

It was clearly aimed at the people who had questioned him during a difficult period in which injuries kept interrupting his progress. Asked about the message afterward, Fils did not hide what had been bothering him.

“Because people are talking very bad. You know, in France, it’s very easy sometimes… I have a bad word,” Fils said.

“OK. Criticize. It’s very easy to criticize, and I didn’t play the French Open. I lost early in Washington, and then people think that I’m done, and I don’t know how to play tennis.

But here we are, I got the title, and I think no one’s going to talk now.”

The Frenchman has had enough reasons to be frustrated. A lower-back stress fracture badly disrupted his 2025 season, and further physical problems have limited him again this year. He missed the Australian Open and Roland Garros, meaning he has now been absent from four of the last five Grand Slam tournaments.

Even with those interruptions, Fils has found a way to produce good results whenever he has been healthy. He reached the Doha final, made deep runs in Miami and Madrid and won the Barcelona title earlier this season.

He also explained that staying positive during the injury setbacks became an important part of his return.

“Well, it pays with the title, of course,” Fils said.

“If I was for sure, if I was negative, I had no chance to win one title or either to win a couple of matches here.

I mean, you just have to stay positive and to find a way to make it work.”

Fils' rise has not surprised everyone around the game.

His coach Goran Ivanisevic, who previously worked with Novak Djokovic, has spoken highly of the Frenchman's game since joining his team earlier this year. The former Wimbledon champion described Fils as a “joy to watch” and called him “exciting, powerful and entertaining.”

Those words look even more relevant after Cincinnati. Fils has always had athleticism and easy power, but his recent results suggest he is becoming better at using those weapons through an entire tournament rather than only in individual matches.

Analysts were also giving him a real chance before the final.

Fils' level in Cincinnati also showed why many around the game have been expecting him to take another step forward. He looked comfortable against different types of opponents and, most importantly, found answers when matches became difficult.

The final against Tiafoe was a good example. After losing the second set 6-1, the Frenchman did not panic or let the match get away from him. He quickly found his rhythm again and dominated the deciding set 6-0, which made the way he won the title even more impressive.

Fils now heads to the US Open in a very different position from previous years. He reached the quarterfinals in Montreal before winning Cincinnati and will arrive in New York at a career-high ranking, with confidence and plenty of matches behind him.

He has never gone beyond the second round at Flushing Meadows, but expectations will be higher this time. After answering his critics with the biggest trophy of his career, the next question is how far the 22-year-old can go at a Grand Slam when his body finally gives him the chance to compete.

LIV Golf has reached the end of its 2026 season with major questions about what happens next.

The league has been dealing with financial problems since Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund confirmed it would stop funding the project after this season. LIV has already cancelled its planned Team Championship in Michigan, while CEO Scott O'Neil admitted last week that the organization has a “very compressed timeline” to complete a deal with a new lead investor.

LIV is now trying to move toward what has been described as “LIV 2.0,” a different model that could include more player ownership and a new schedule built around team and individual events. Nothing is fully settled yet, and the future will depend on whether enough of the league's biggest names agree to stay.

Bryson DeChambeau is a key name in those talks. His five-year LIV contract expired after the Indianapolis event, and there is speculation over whether he will sign again or take a different route.

The two-time US Open champion, however, sounded much more positive than many of the reports surrounding the league.

After finishing tied for third in Indianapolis, DeChambeau was asked if he remains confident about LIV Golf's future.

“I think there's a lot of potential moving forward,” DeChambeau said.

The 32-year-old admitted that the last few years have not always been easy. LIV has faced criticism, legal battles, changes in leadership and now the loss of the financial support that allowed it to attract many leading players.

“It's been an interesting ride, that's for sure,” he said. “You know just as much as I have everything that we've gone through and the tough moments that we've had. But it's made us stronger.”

DeChambeau then spoke directly about the next version of the league.

“As much as we're transitioning from LIV 1.0 to 2.0, I have great thoughts about what could happen next year. I wish I could be more up front about it.”

He also pointed out that he is not pretending everything has gone perfectly.

“I'm going to be real with it; not everything was perfect,” DeChambeau said.

“For the most part we've done a solid job. If there's one thing that I could say, it's we did something different in the game of golf, and I'm proud of that.”

The American ended with a line that will probably keep people guessing during the offseason.

“I think there's something fun coming.”

Those comments match the message O'Neil has been giving in recent weeks. The LIV chief has said he is confident the league can secure enough players and investment to continue, although he has also admitted that the current funding deal depends on player commitment.

Not everyone in golf shares DeChambeau's optimism.

Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has been one of LIV's loudest critics since the league started, and his view has become even more negative since the PIF decision.

Speaking earlier this summer, Chamblee claimed that the uncertainty surrounding LIV had left DeChambeau himself in a difficult position. He suggested that the American could already be looking at ways to eventually return to the PGA Tour.

Chamblee went further and suggested that the situation may even have affected players who do not know where they will be competing next season.

“Just being in flux, I think it's hurt a lot of players' games,” Chamblee said.

He also pointed to the uncertainty over DeChambeau's own future and suggested that having so many unanswered questions could be affecting his performances.

Golf Channel presenter Rich Lerner has made a similar point. Lerner argued that these are prime years for DeChambeau and that he now has to decide what he really wants. He could continue with a rebuilt LIV, try to find a route back to the PGA Tour or put more attention into his successful YouTube career.

The biggest issue for LIV is that the league needs players like DeChambeau if LIV 2.0 is going to work. O'Neil has already admitted that getting a “critical mass of the right players” is important for the new investment deal.

DeChambeau is clearly trying to keep the project alive and remains publicly optimistic. Chamblee and other critics see a league facing a much harder battle than before.

The next few weeks should say much more. LIV now needs new money, commitments from its best players and a clear plan for 2027. DeChambeau thinks something fun is coming, but until those pieces are in place, questions about LIV Golf's future will remain.

Carlos Alcaraz has been away from competitive tennis for more than four months, and his absence has been felt across the men's game.

The 23-year-old has not played an official match since April, when a right wrist injury forced him out in Barcelona. He then missed Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati, leaving the tour without one of its biggest names during a long part of the season.

That mattered even more because Alcaraz has become one of the players who can change the atmosphere of a tournament on his own. His rivalry with Jannik Sinner has been at the center of men's tennis over the last two years, while his speed, shot-making and personality have also made him one of the most watched players on the circuit.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion finally confirmed last week that he will return at the US Open. Now ranked No. 3, Alcaraz is back in New York and has already practiced in front of fans, something he admitted he had badly missed.

After his practice session, Alcaraz stopped for a short on-court interview and was asked what it felt like to be back around a tournament again.

“Absolutely, after a couple of months recovering from my injury, I miss everything. I miss this place, I miss the crowd, I miss the ball kids,” Alcaraz said.

It was a big blow for one of the best tennis players in the world, who believes that he can do great things in the future.

“I think I couldn’t have started at a better place than here, so I feel very grateful. I’m just happy.”

The Spaniard also pointed out that choosing a Grand Slam for his comeback was not an easy call. There is no smaller event to help him find his timing first, and his opening singles match in New York will immediately be best-of-five tennis.

“Yeah I mean it is a very special tournament for me it’s a Grand Slam, best of 5,” he said.

The former world No. 1 then stressed how much work went into giving himself a chance to return at Flushing Meadows.

“After more than four months coming back at a Grand Slam wasn’t an easy decision but I just tried to put everything to be ready for this tournament.”

New York has already played a major role in Alcaraz's career. He won his first Grand Slam title there in 2022 and lifted the trophy again last year after beating Sinner in the final.

Before the singles event starts, Alcaraz is also set to partner Serena Williams in mixed doubles. That will give him a first taste of competitive tennis before he has to deal with the physical demands of a full singles match.

The excitement around his return has been obvious, although former players and analysts are not all convinced that four months without matches can be overcome quickly.

Andy Roddick welcomed the decision and described Alcaraz as “the most exciting tennis player to watch.” The 2003 US Open champion also believes the Spaniard would not be in New York unless his team felt the chance of aggravating the wrist was very low.

Roddick pointed out that Alcaraz may have to accept some early rust and even the possibility of an early defeat, adding that his return is “a huge win for tennis.” He also said that without both Alcaraz and Sinner, the tournament would have faced a much less attractive situation.

Tennis analyst Gill Gross took an even more optimistic view. He warned against applying normal comeback logic to a player with Alcaraz's ability.

“The greats don’t follow the rules, they break them,” Gross said.

He pointed to previous examples of champions returning in difficult circumstances and added: “I think he can win it. Not a prediction, but don’t count him out.”

Fans are excited to see him back and expectations are high. His rivals know what Alcaraz is capable of, although after four months away it is hard to know how much he can really do in New York. The Spaniard, however, believes in his game and will expect a lot from himself.

Alcaraz also has his eyes on taking the top spot away from Sinner and stopping the Italian from controlling the tour. With Sinner out of the US Open, the Spaniard now has a good chance to take advantage and make up some ground in that race.

Arthur Fils is a Masters 1000 champion, having beaten Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in an hour and 28 minutes in Cincinnati.

The Frenchman recovered his game after a challenging second set to bagel the home player and claim his career-best title at 22.

The fury of Fils 🔥 The moment @ArthurFils defeated Tiafoe to become the youngest Frenchman to ever raise a Masters trophy! #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/uzGFJFFNWr

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 23, 2026

Frances reached his second Cincinnati final after a recent surgery. He fought fell for two sets before losing ground in the decider, experiencing a bagel and finishing as runner-up.

Arthur tamed his strokes more efficiently and outplayed his rival in sets one and three. The Frenchman hit a service winner in almost every second point, which made the difference after many errors on both sides.

Frances grabbed two breaks in the second set and suffered four breaks from eight chances presented to his opponent. Fils provided stronger numbers in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, while nothing separated them in the more extended ones.

The favorite provided five strong service games in the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side. Arthur grabbed a break in the second game of the match after forcing the rival's mistake.

The 21st seed held in the next one for 3-0 and secured another fine hold two games later that sent him 4-1 in front. Fils served for the set at 5-3 and landed an ace to wrap up the first part of the duel in 28 minutes.

Frances recovered his strokes in the second set and outplayed his rival. He served well and welcomed the Frenchman's forehand error in the second game to earn a break and move in front.

Tiafoe landed a service winner for 4-1 and grabbed another break in the next one to extend the gap. The home favorite held with a service winner at 5-1 to close the set and force a decider after 54 minutes.

Instead of building on that, Tiafoe lost the ground in the final set and faded from the court. He wasted a game point in the second game and experienced a break that sent him down.

Fils attacked on the return in the fourth game to secure another break and open a 4-0 gap, moving closer to the finish line. The Frenchman drew another error from his rival in the fifth game for a hold and another step toward the top. 

Frances served to stay in the match in game six and squandered three game points. He faced three match points and sprayed a forehand error on the last to drop serve and allow Arthur to provide a bagel and celebrate his first Masters 1000 title at 22.

Jannik Sinner will not play at the US Open this year after failing to recover from the right knee problem that has troubled him through the North American hard-court swing.

The world No. 1 announced his withdrawal on Friday, ending hopes of another meeting with Carlos Alcaraz in New York. It will also be the first Grand Slam tournament since 2019 without Sinner in the field.

The Italian had already skipped Montreal and Cincinnati because of the same knee issue. He returned to the practice court in Monte Carlo in the days before making his final decision, but the response from the knee was not good enough to convince him and his team that he was ready for best-of-five-set tennis.

Sinner reached the US Open final last year, losing to Alcaraz, and his absence will cost him 1,300 ranking points. More importantly, it means he will miss a major tournament at a time when he had been playing some of the best tennis of his career.

Former world No. 7 Corrado Barazzutti believes the 24-year-old made the correct call.

Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Barazzutti pointed out that another Grand Slam title would have been a huge opportunity for Sinner, who has already won five majors.

“It could have been another Slam to add to the trophy cabinet: Novak Djokovic’s 24 are very far away, Jannik is at 5, but one piece at a time you can start dreaming,” Barazzutti said.

He then stressed that the fact Sinner did not even try to play in New York suggests the problem needed to be taken seriously.

“But evidently the injury is serious; he didn’t even try.”

Barazzutti knows from experience how risky it can be for a player to compete when doctors are advising against it. He recalled what happened with Fabio Fognini at the 2023 French Open, when he was working as the Italian’s coach.

“Fabio in 2023. I was his coach. He played the third round of Roland Garros against Sebastian Ofner despite a pectoral injury,” he said.

Barazzutti added that the doctor had advised Fognini not to play, but the former top-10 player decided to go on court and pushed himself anyway. According to Barazzutti, that decision only made the injury worse.

The former Italian Davis Cup captain claimed that this is exactly the type of situation Sinner needed to avoid.

“We have no information, we don’t know anything. Also on Carlos Alcaraz: he was in Barcelona, suddenly retired and was out of action for four and a half months,” Barazzutti said.

“Surely Jannik made the best decision by listening to the doctors’ opinion.”

That comparison is particularly relevant because Alcaraz has only just confirmed his own return after spending more than four months away because of a wrist injury. Sinner, meanwhile, chose not to force his comeback just because a Grand Slam was approaching.

Sinner had already given an indication that the knee was not improving quickly enough when he pulled out of Cincinnati earlier this month.

At the time, he said his right knee had been bothering him and admitted that, despite working with his medical team, he was not ready to compete. His focus then was to recover in time for the US Open.

That target eventually proved unrealistic.

When announcing his withdrawal from New York, Sinner said he and his team had worked hard to get him ready, but practice sessions in Monte Carlo convinced them that more recovery time was necessary.

“We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time,” Sinner said.

He also admitted that missing the tournament was difficult because of what New York means to him. Sinner won his first US Open title in 2024 and returned to the final a year later, where Alcaraz stopped him from defending the trophy.

The Italian said he was “very sad and disappointed” and stressed that New York has a special place in his heart.

Sinner’s current problem came after a successful Wimbledon campaign, where he defeated Alexander Zverev in the final to win his fifth Grand Slam title. Earlier in the tournament, he also had a worrying fall against Miomir Kecmanovic, although he said afterward that he had been fortunate to escape without an immediate injury.

There is no confirmed date for his return. Reports in Italy have suggested that the Asian swing could be the next realistic target, with Beijing at the end of September or Shanghai in early October among the possibilities.

Novak Djokovic managed to hold on to the world No. 5 ranking this week, and the Serbian had Arthur Fils to thank for making sure Flavio Cobolli did not move ahead of him.

Djokovic arrived in Cincinnati with a chance to strengthen his position before the US Open, but his return to competition lasted only one match. Thiago Agustin Tirante stunned the 24-time Grand Slam champion 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round, leaving Djokovic vulnerable in the rankings.

Cobolli then made a strong run in Ohio and suddenly had a real chance to pass the 39-year-old. The Italian reached the semifinals and was getting closer to Djokovic with every win.

However, Fils stopped him there, beating Cobolli 6-3, 6-4 before going on to defeat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in the final. That result was enough to leave Novak in fifth place with 3,770 points, while Cobolli climbed four spots to No. 6 with 3,710.

It means only 60 points now separate the two players.

There were also changes above Djokovic in the latest ATP rankings. Jannik Sinner remains world No. 1 with 12,800 points, while Alexander Zverev has moved back ahead of Carlos Alcaraz and now sits second with 7,790.

Alcaraz dropped to third on 7,160 points after missing several months because of a wrist injury. Felix Auger-Aliassime is fourth with 4,640, followed by Djokovic and Cobolli.

Alex de Minaur is now seventh, Daniil Medvedev eighth, Ben Shelton ninth and Taylor Fritz rounds out the top 10.

Among the other Serbian players, Miomir Kecmanovic moved up one position to No. 65 with 900 points, while Hamad Medjedovic slipped five places to No. 78 with 764 points.

For Djokovic, staying ahead of Cobolli is more important than it may first appear. Sinner has withdrawn from the US Open because of a right knee problem, so Djokovic is now among the four highest-ranked players in the men's field in New York.

That gives him a much better seeding position than he would have had if Cobolli had passed him. It also means Djokovic can avoid Alcaraz and Zverev until at least the semifinals, depending on how the draw is made.

Fils therefore ended up doing Novak a useful favor without playing him directly. The Frenchman had his own reasons to celebrate after Cincinnati, winning his first Masters 1000 title and moving to a career-high No. 11.

Djokovic, meanwhile, will probably be more concerned about his own level than the rankings. His match against Tirante was his first appearance since Wimbledon and it again raised questions about how his body will react in difficult conditions.

The Serbian started well against Tirante and won the opening set, but his physical condition became a problem as the match went on. He later explained that the heat and humidity made an existing health issue more difficult to manage.

"It was not an enjoyable match for me, for sure," Djokovic said after the defeat.

The result left him with very little match practice before the final Grand Slam of the season. He skipped Montreal and then played only one match in Cincinnati, so New York will be another test of whether he can quickly find his best tennis over five sets.

His Grand Slam results this year have still been strong. Djokovic reached the Australian Open final, where he lost to Alcaraz, before suffering a surprising third-round defeat to Joao Fonseca at Roland Garros. At Wimbledon, he made another deep run before Sinner stopped him in the semifinals.

Those results show that Djokovic can still get close to major titles even at 39. He has also made it clear that simply reaching the later rounds is no longer enough for him.

After his Australian Open run, Djokovic said he still had the belief and confidence to win another Slam. That remains the main target as he continues chasing a record 25th major singles title.

The situation in New York may give him one of his better opportunities. Sinner is out, while defending champion Alcaraz is returning after four months away because of his wrist injury. Zverev has been more active, but he also failed to go deep in Cincinnati after losing to Tommy Paul.

Novak will not arrive with much momentum, and his Cincinnati loss showed there are still physical concerns. Still, keeping the No. 5 ranking was a small but useful boost at the right time.

The US Open singles draw begins on August 30, and Djokovic will head to Flushing Meadows looking for his fifth New York title and his first Grand Slam trophy since 2023.

The experienced tennis player is excited about such an important challenge, which can open up many paths for him.

Jessica Pegula joked that playing against Coco Gauff in the Cincinnati final felt like playing against a backboard after the world No. 4 produced a near-flawless performance.

Gauff was in control from start to finish, impressively converting five of six break-point chances while racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set and going 5-2 up in the second before sealing a 6-2 6-4 win.

It is worth mentioning that it was the first all-American women's final in Cincinnati since 1970.

After taking the microphone, Pegula decided to praise 22-year-old Gauff's level in a funny way. Then, the 32-year-old got serious and noted that she didn't think she played badly, but rather that her rival delivered an outstanding display.

“I want to say congrats to Coco and her team. Gosh, you were like a backboard today. It was not fun to play against," Pegula joked during her runner-up speech.

"I didn’t even think I played bad. I just think you played a really really high level. So congrats. Amazing momentum headed into the US Open. We know each other so well."

Jessica Pegula after losing to Coco Gauff in the Cincinnati final Jessica: “I wanna say congrats to Coco and her team. Gosh, you were like a backboard today. It was not fun to play against. 😂. I didn’t even think I played bad. I just think you played a really really high level.… pic.twitter.com/6mjQEGag01

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 24, 2026

The Cincinnati title match was Pegula's fifth final of the year. She previously won Dubai and Charleston, while she finished as runner-up in Berlin and Washington before also falling short in Cincinnati.

Although the world No. 3 has two titles in 2026, she has now lost her last three finals since June.

Still, despite the Cincinnati final defeat, it was a strong run for Pegula ahead of the US Open.

Earlier in the Cincinnati tournament, Pegula publicly stated that winning the US Open was her goal, so it's clear what her intention is going into the final Grand Slam of the year.

Coco Gauff admitted she was thrilled with how she performed throughout Cincinnati and hopes the level she showed there can translate into another strong US Open run.

Going into Cincinnati, the two-time Grand Slam champion had yet to win a title in 2026 after losing two finals and falling in three semifinals.

In her Cincinnati opener, Gauff faced trouble after Liudmila Samsonova took the first set 6-2, but the world No. 4 stormed back to claim a 2-6 6-4 6-1 win.

From that moment on, the home star enjoyed smooth sailing, clinching five consecutive straight-set wins over Ann Li, Marie Bouzkova, Marta Kostyuk, Sara Bejlek and Jessica Pegula, whom she routed 6-2 6-4 in the final.

Gauff was especially impressive against world No. 3 Pegula, converting five of six break points and leading from start to finish.

After sealing her second Cincinnati title, the new 12-time WTA champion said each match gave her more confidence in the work she had put in.

"I think with each match, I was feeling more and more confident in trusting the work that I put in and the practice," Gauff said after completing the Cincinnati triumph.

"Knowing that I can figure out these matches, and it's going to be tough in New York, but just knowing the quality wins that I had this week, knowing that I'm able to figure it out even if I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt like I was playing this week."

2023 🏆⏩🏆 2026 Champions are built different 🙌 @CocoGauff #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/JqSJEDY6NF

— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 24, 2026

Last year, the American exited the Canadian Open in the round-of-16 and reached the Cincinnati quarterfinal before losing to Naomi Osaka in the US Open round-of-16.

This year, Gauff reached the semifinal in Canada and won Cincinnati, meaning she heads to New York with a 9-1 record on hard courts this summer.

"I think it was a long journey, but I'm happy. I think it's night and day, the player I was last year to now. I don't think that this is an indicator that I'm going to do well in New York. Just knowing the quality ones that I had this week, hopefully I can use that experience," the world No. 4 added.

2023 US Open champion Gauff will now aim to win her second title at Flushing Meadows.

Coco Gauff delivered a masterclass display in the Cincinnati final to beat Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-4 and secure her first title of the year.

The two-time Grand Slam champion, who was seeded at No. 4, made a lightning start as she took the opening five games before closing out the opener by breaking Pegula for the third time in the eighth game.

After dominating the first set, Gauff also opened a 5-2 lead in the second set. On the verge of winning the final, the No. 4 seed failed to serve it out in the ninth game. However, the 22-year-old didn't panic, breaking Pegula in the 10th game to wrap things up in the all-American Cincinnati final.

Shining star 🌟 #CincyTennis | @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/4ckL3yXcpO

— Cincinnati Open (@CincyTennis) August 24, 2026

Before winning the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, Gauff had lost two finals in 2026 and reached the semifinals on three separate occasions.

Now, by beating Pegula, the 22-year-old lifted her first title since going all the way at the Wuhan Open last October.

Gauff now has 12 WTA titles, four of which have come at the WTA 1000 level. Also, she is a two-time champion in Cincinnati, having also won the event in 2023.

"I think with each match, I was feeling more and more confident in trusting the work that I put in and the practice," the world No. 4 said after winning her maiden title of the year.

"Knowing that I can figure out these matches, and it's going to be tough in New York, but just knowing the quality wins that I had this week, knowing that I'm able to figure it out even if I'm not playing my best, but also knowing that I can play that great tennis that I felt like I was playing this week."

Gauff will now certainly hope to continue her strong form at the US Open, where she became a Grand Slam champion in 2023.

Iga Swiatek says she is satisfied with the work she put in over the past 20 days in Toronto and Cincinnati and is heading into the US Open with good feelings despite falling short of winning back-to-back titles. 

The Polish tennis star struggled with form and confidence for much of the season, but she turned the page at the start of the North American hard-court swing by lifting the WTA 1000 title in Toronto and ending her title drought.

By our count that’s… 🤔 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 12 CAREER WTA 1000 TITLES for Iga Swiatek👏 pic.twitter.com/8NSSCZnwlR

— National Bank Open (@NBOtoronto) August 14, 2026

Swiatek's resurgence continued in Cincinnati, where she won four more matches to reach the semifinal and extend her winning streak to 10.

However, that run came to an end against Jessica Pegula, who outlasted the six-time Grand Slam champion 7-5 4-6 6-4 in a nearly three-hour semifinal battle.

Despite the defeat, Swiatek felt there were positives to take from her two-tournament run and believes she made important steps forward.

"We made some steps forward in this intensive part of the season. It was tough to play today with the wind, but we each put pressure on the other. I didn't feel good in the first set but coming back in the second and using all of my chances was a good change," the former world No. 1 said following the Pegula loss.

Swiatek has had a disappointing Grand Slam season so far, losing in the Australian Open quarterfinal, French Open round-of-16 and Wimbledon third round.

However, the circumstances are different heading into New York as the 25-year-old appears to have rediscovered her confidence and form during the North American hard-court swing.

Swiatek knows what it takes to make it all the way at the US Open, having won the 2022 title by beating Ons Jabeur in the final.

Greg Rusedski suggested that Carlos Alcaraz's decision to compete at the US Open may be nothing more than a publicity stunt.

The reigning Australian Open champion suffered a wrist injury in mid-April and was initially slated to return to action at the Cincinnati Masters. However, he withdrew from the tournament and cast major doubt on whether he would be ready to compete at Flushing Meadows.

Then, on Thursday, Alcaraz confirmed that he would return at Flushing Meadows. Shortly after, Alcaraz was also confirmed to compete alongside Serena Williams in the US Open's star-studded mixed doubles event.

Rusedski admitted he was surprised by Alcaraz's decision and questioned whether returning at a Grand Slam after a lengthy injury absence was the smartest move.

“I mean, you have got to think, why would you start back with a wristt injury in three out of five sets? I would be very surprised if he plays in the singles, but he says ‘I’m back,'" the 1997 US Open finalist said on his Off Court with Greg podcast.

“I’m surprised. You know, this is where it’s questionable. That’s why I think the relationship might have split with Juan Carlos Ferrero, because I don’t think he would have allowed him to take this sort of risk if he’s not 100 percent right.

“I hope he’s healthy. I hope he’s able to play the US Open. But I’m not sure this is the smartest thing, unless it’s just a publicity stunt.”

Players rarely choose a Grand Slam as their comeback tournament after a lengthy absence simply because the best-of-five-set format is far more physically demanding than a regular ATP event.

Holger Rune is a recent example. The Dane, who hasn't played since October 2025, practiced with Alcaraz for a week but ultimately decided against making his post-Achilles surgery return at the US Open.

The US Open mixed doubles event takes place on August 25-26, so it won't take long before Alcaraz speaks with the media and provides more clarity on whether he also intends to compete in singles.